The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-10-26
THE CASKETS KEY.
BY LUCY II. HOOPER.

projected tragedy OF Caesar Borgia, ," his
friends and relatives in New York were
far from anticipating the actual results
Of his researches. These had brought
about his acquaintance with a certain
Dr. Alexander Marini, an aged physician
Of Milan, who claimed descent from one
of the collateral branches of the Borpia
family. This old doctors grand daughter,
Lucrezia Marini, was wonderfully beauti-
ful, an Italian blonde, glowing with
the freshness of extreme youth, being
then hardly seventeen, and with all the
lustre of lovelness which, as her
grandfather declared, revived and repro
duced the charms of her of the same
name who was the famous bride of Duke
Alfonso of Ferrara. The tragedy re-
maincd unwrittcn. and Chester Seabrook
took to wife this dazzling creature. If,
wedding in haste, he afterwards repented
at leisure, the outside world was des-
tined never to know. His married life
lasted little over one year. His brill
liant Italian wife died in giving birth to
a son, and the young widower returned
to his native land with his little child,
possibly wiser man, but certainly
sadder one. 1t was an ominous fact that
nor to the experiences Of his few months
of matrimony. A miniature, painted on
ivory and reproducing the glowing yet
delicate beauty of the fair Lucrezia, was
all that remained to him of that episode
in his life. That, and the boy, who had
received the name of Louis, and who
bore well his transfer to the United
States, growing and thriving as though
he had been born under the shadow of
the Stars and Stripes.
When Louis was little over twelve
years of age his father died suddenly of
typhoid pneumonia. He had one only
sister, Mrs. Richard Marsden, and to her
and her husband he bequeathed the
guardianship of his son and that sons
large fortune. 1t was healthy -natured
and happy family in which the boy grew
to manhood. Mrs. Marsden's three sons
were all oder than Louis, and did not. it
is true, take very kindly to their cousin.
But her only daughter, little Grace was
some years his junior, and, as is often
the case in such instances with in
telligent, precocious little girls, she de-
veloped great fancy for her moody boy
cousin regularly took him under her pro-
lection.
The poor boy needed all the affection
that could possibly be bestowed upon
him. lie was never strong, and his dis
position was gloomy and morbid to de-
gree that was extraordinary in one that
was to so great degree favorite of for
tune. He was shyand silent to a painful
extent, and, despite his Italian origin,
he developed no taste for either art or
music. He decided early in life to be-
come physician, but, after studying
medicine for some few years in desultory,
languid way, devoting the chief part of
his time to Investigations concerning the
nature and properties of poisons, he sud
denly announced that, on attaining his
majority, he had made up his mind to re-
linquish all idea of studying profession
And he likewise astonished Mr.. and Mrs
Marsden by making formal proposals for
the hand of Grace.
These proposals were negatived at
once, and decidedly, by Mr.. Marsden.
'Hou are both of you too young to
think of such a thing as marriage, or
even OF an engagement, Louis" his
uncle made answer. "You are only lust
twenty-one, and Grace is but a few
weeks over sixteen. Moreover, | have
decided objections to the marriage of
first cousins"
''You do not know to what you doom
me, uncle, was the gloomy response of
the young man. "Grace is all that
have to live for upon earth, and if | lose
! her -"
Now, do not talk nonsense, Louis "
responded Richard Marsden, brisklv. but
not unkindly. 'Grace is too much of a
child to be allowed TO listen to your
| proffers of affection. She cares no more
| for you than she does for Ned or Harry,
or Frank. You are like brother to her
| nothing more-and | do not mean to
have her mind disturbed by anything
like love-making. Besides, you have
seen nothing of the world, as you should
do before choosing a wife and settling
down to matrimOny and quietude Go
abroad-spend the next two years in
European travel, and then
''And then you will give Grace to me?'
eagerly asked the youth, his pale face
flushing and his dark eyes glowing as he
spoke.
IL make no promise; l will enter into
no compact with you on that subject.
| You and Grace Tust both be entirely
| AANNi HhN II tiAiA1l VI you Slluulh ldll III
love with some one else
81 cannot admit the existence of such
a possibility as far as | am concerned,
Louis made answer, passiOnately.
Nevertheless such things are possible,
and have often occurred, especially
where two such children as you both arc
were concerned. Now let me hear moth
ing more on this subject | shall send
Grace TO stay with her aunt, Mrs
Elavyn, in Washington, until you are
gone, and shall feel seriously displeased
with you if you broach to her any sub
ject connected with love and matrimony
before her departure.
And so well and carefully did Mrs
Marsden (who was at once acquainted by
her husband with all the details of thu
affair watch over her daughter tha
Grace vert away for her visit wholly un
conscious of the conquest she had mad,
of her cousins affections. She was, L
tell the truth, so delighted at the idea o
journey to Washington, of soiOuu
with her favorite aunt (whOse daughte
Alice was about her own age), and o
all the things she meant to see and do
that she lost sight of the fact that Cousin